Published: Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 11:16 AM.

Photo Galleries

BELMONT – As a first-year coach at a school that has finished in the bottom of the Conference Carolinas standings the last six seasons, Brooke Le Sage has no problem with her team’s eighth-place preseason coaches’ pick out of 11 teams.

If anything, she thinks it’s probably higher than she would’ve expected.

But that doesn’t mean Le Sage is expecting a poor season for her Lady Crusaders.

“Our goals are to focus on little things, play as a team, have fun and be top five in the conference,” said Le Sage, a former Long Beach State softball standout who played in the women’s professional league and spent last season as an assistant at Rock Hill, S.C.’s Winthrop University. “I’m very excited with this opportunity.

“And I’d like to thank (Abbey president) Dr. (Bill) Thierfelder and (Abbey chancellor) Abbot Placid for hiring me and giving me the chance to develop a program with their core values. And I would also like to thank (former coach) Ellie Hanover for leaving behind a great group of girls I’m looking forward to working with.”

Hanover, who left for the head coaching job at Niagara after three years at the Abbey, recruited virtually all of the players on this year’s team, including 12 with previous starting experience.

Six position players return who were full- or part-time starters, another returns after a year off and three pitchers who accounted for 46 of the team’s 50 starts are back.

BELMONT – As a first-year coach at a school that has finished in the bottom of the Conference Carolinas standings the last six seasons, Brooke Le Sage has no problem with her team’s eighth-place preseason coaches’ pick out of 11 teams.

If anything, she thinks it’s probably higher than she would’ve expected.

But that doesn’t mean Le Sage is expecting a poor season for her Lady Crusaders.

“Our goals are to focus on little things, play as a team, have fun and be top five in the conference,” said Le Sage, a former Long Beach State softball standout who played in the women’s professional league and spent last season as an assistant at Rock Hill, S.C.’s Winthrop University. “I’m very excited with this opportunity.

“And I’d like to thank (Abbey president) Dr. (Bill) Thierfelder and (Abbey chancellor) Abbot Placid for hiring me and giving me the chance to develop a program with their core values. And I would also like to thank (former coach) Ellie Hanover for leaving behind a great group of girls I’m looking forward to working with.”

Hanover, who left for the head coaching job at Niagara after three years at the Abbey, recruited virtually all of the players on this year’s team, including 12 with previous starting experience.

Six position players return who were full- or part-time starters, another returns after a year off and three pitchers who accounted for 46 of the team’s 50 starts are back.

“We’re picked eighth in the conference,” Le Sage said. “Coming in as a new head coach – and a first-year head coach – I would’ve expected that. But it’s certainly not going to detour our goals as a team.”

Le Sage inherits three experienced pitchers in senior Emily Self, a former Gazette player of the year from Cherryville, sophomore Nikki Faust and senior Brittany Southard. That trio will compete with freshmen Catelyn Presley, Jena Reisenauer and Samantha Jacobs for pitching duties this season.

In the field, three-year starter and two-time all-conference performer Carol-Anne Sherrill is a top returnee after starting all 138 games she has played in her three previous seasons. Sherrill hit .321 with three home runs and 15 RBIs last season and is slated to start at second base.

Two other all-conference players are back in 2012 selection Amber Faust at catcher and 2011 designated player Becca Rothrock after she missed last season. Faust hit .273 with 19 RBIs in 49 games (48 starts) last season and Rothrock has slugged eight home runs while hitting better than .300 in 71 games in 2010 and 2011.

Also competing for playing time at catcher with Amber Faust are former South Point standout Brooke Baliles, Shannon Cardillo and Teresa Stemp.

Freshman Kaitlyn Jones is competing for the starting first base job with veteran Jordan Killian and former North Gaston standout Kinsey McClure. McClure has started 55 times in the previous two seasons and Killian started five times as a freshman.

Wingate transfer Courtney Barrineau and veterans Baliles and Shannon Arthur are competing for the third base job. Arthur and Baliles each started 35 times last season.

Freshman Hannah Bright is slated for shortstop duty, with Arthur, junior Sarah Picciano in left field, former East Gaston Gazette player of the year Shanie McConnell in center field and Nikki Faust, Kaylie Mae Kuhnke, Jacobs and Reisenauer in competition for left field.